At some point in February our hosting company was hacked… And ever since we’ve been battling to fix the issues this hack created. We’re almost there – all that’s left to sort out is the theme/layout of the site. If you notice a part of the site that isn’t working correctly please post a comment so that we can address it.

The Tragically Hip will be headlining a concert in Niagara-on-the-Lake Canada Day weekend.

Although town councillors are struggling with the logistics of up to 20,000 people arriving on the Commons and the impact on surrounding residents and businesses, the California concert production company planning the event has so far asked only for an extension to the noise bylaw. AEG Live is scheduling five bands beginning at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, June 30 at Butlerâ€™s Barracks on John Street, with the Tragically Hip performing, accompanied by a video and light show, at the end of the evening.

With councilâ€™s support of the noise bylaw extension Monday, the show will wrap up at 11 p.m.â€”no later, promised Vanessa Arscott, the local representative of the production company.

The Tragically Hip’s performance on Thursday night, will be webcast live on their website

(FORT ALBANY, ON â€“ Wednesday, 01 February 2012) – Canadian legends The Tragically Hip, along with celebrated novelist Joseph Boyden, will be participating in this yearâ€™s Great Moon Gathering. The annual event, held on the west coast of James Bay in Ontarioâ€™s pristine Arctic lowlands, will gather in Fort Albany, February 15-17, and include the Cree First Nations of Attawapiskat, Peawanuck, Kashechewan, Moose Factory, and Fort Albany.

With a focus on both traditional and contemporary aboriginal education, the Great Moon Gathering celebrates the strengths and diversity of the Cree Nation. Over forty workshops will be offered, and are as varied as Cree language, sweat lodge, moccasin and hand drum making, classroom management, and early education.

â€œThe moment I first stepped foot on the shores of James Bay, I knew the Tragically Hip had to go there, to the birthplace of our country,â€ said Gord Downie. The bandâ€™s excited. Weâ€™re going to hang out, talk, and listen. We have a fresh batch of songs we want to play, for both old friends and new.â€

Joseph Boyden adds, â€œRecent coverage of reserves such as Attawapiskat only captures one part of a story thatâ€™s much deeper, nuanced, and beautiful than most Canadians know. The Hip and I are coming up to James Bay to show our love and support for a people and a culture that transcends so many of the negative stereotypes that have been floated the last months.â€

The Tragically Hip’s performance on Thursday night, will be webcast live on their website, so check out http://www.thehip.com for more details.

The Hip are really excited to get north! We’re going to hang out and talk with old friends and new. We have a whole new batch of songs we want to play. The moment I first stepped foot round the shores of James Bay, I knew the Hip had to go there – to the birthplace of our country.
GD.

The Tragically Hip & Novelist Joseph Boyden in the James Bay Area February 15 – 17th for the 2012 Great Moon Gathering:

Canadian legends The Tragically Hip, along with celebrated novelist Joseph Boyden, will be participating in this yearâ€™s Great Moon Gathering. The annual event, held on the west coast of James Bay in Ontarioâ€™s pristine Arctic lowlands, will gather in 2012 in Fort Albany, February 15-17, and include the Cree First Nations of Attawapiskat, Peawanuck, Kashechewan, Moose Factory, and Fort Albany.

With a focus on both traditional and contemporary aboriginal education, the Great Moon Gathering celebrates the strengths and diversity of the Cree Nation. Over forty workshops will be offered, and are as varied as Cree language, sweat lodge, moccasin and hand drum making, classroom management, and early education.

Gord Downie says, â€œThe moment I first stepped foot on the shores of James Bay, I knew the Tragically Hip had to go there, to the birthplace of our country. The bandâ€™s excited. Weâ€™re going to hang out, talk, and listen. We have a fresh batch of songs we want to play, for both old friends and new.â€

Joseph Boyden adds, â€œRecent coverage of reserves such as Attawapiskat only captures one part of a story thatâ€™s much deeper, nuanced, and beautiful than most Canadians know. The Hip and I are coming up to James Bay to show our love and support for a people and a culture that transcends so many of the negative stereotypes that have been floated the last months.â€

Tickets open to the public (if any left) after Feb. 6

For more information, contact Edmund Metatawabin, chair of the Great Moon Gathering Committee. (705) 278-1108.

7. Back to the major labels for a second. They will continue to push heritage performers.

One advantage the majors have is the rights to decades of catalogue material. There are warehouses all across the planet filled with material that has yet to be released. That means lots of opportunities to package this stuff up and sell it as high-margin deluxe sets or special reissues. Watch for the Tragically Hip to get the deluxe reissue treatment in 2012.

Perhaps we’ll get studio versions of Get Back Again, Blonde Solid, Radio Show, Montreal, Waltz For Juliet, Wait So Long, Times Are Passing Us By, It’s Just As Well, Cookie Factory, etc, etc, etc.

Check out A Museum After Dark for a comprehensive look at some of the great, lost tracks by The Hip.